EXCERPT: He was a quiet leader who played games in total silence. Trash talking and showboating were antithetical to his approach, for he embodied professionalism and carried himself with dignity on the field. Art Monk's goal was simple: Let his achievements do the talking. Did they ever. Monk was one of the premier wide receivers in National Football League history. In 16 seasons, his first 14 with the Washington Redskins, he caught 940 passes for 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns. His reception total was a record that fell to a host of receivers.

He riddled defenses with picture-perfect bullet throws, proving to be one of the greatest pure passers ever. He threw for more than 30,000 yards and 255 touchdowns over 18 seasons. He posted an 82.6 passer rating, one of the best in NFL history. He won three NFL passing titles, made the Pro Bowl five times and is a justly enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

So when Sonny Jurgensen expounds on the potential of a quarterback, one must listen intently. This time, he directs his thoughts at the Redskins Patrick Ramsey, who has developed into one of the league's top passers in only his second season.

The 1960s was the Golden Era of pro football, a time when the sport challenged and surpassed baseball as the national pastime. As more and more NFL games were televised, such quarterbacks as Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr, Roman Gabriel, Joe Namath, Len Dawson and Daryle Lamonica became household names.

Another ace quarterback of that period was Sonny Jurgensen, a future Hall of Fame inductee. The Redskins' legend was in the prime of an 18-year career in which he would clog the NFL's and Redskins' record books, proving to be arguably the greatest pure passer ever.

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Mike Richman is the man with all of the answers when it comes to Redskins history. A journalist who has covered sports for a quarter-century, Mike is the author of the two most comprehensive books on Redskins history – the Washington Redskins Football Vault and The Redskins Encyclopedia. He also served as lead editor and co-author of Joe Gibbs: An Enduring Legacy, a photo-heavy book that highlights the amazing life achievements of legendary Redskins coach Joe Gibbs. Mike's articles on Redskins history have appeared in myriad publications, and he has hosted an award-winning Redskins TV show called “Burgundy & Gold Magazine” and a podcast called "Burgundy & Gold Flashback."

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About Mike

Redskins historian and journalist Mike Richman is the author of the two most comprehensive books on Redskins history – The Redskins Encyclopedia and the Washington Redskins Football Vault: The History of a Proud Franchise. Mike also served as lead editor and co-author of Joe Gibbs: An Enduring Legacy, a photo-heavy book that reviews the amazing life achievements of legendary Redskins coach Joe Gibbs. Mike has also hosted a podcast focusing on Redskins history called "Burgundy & Gold Flashback," which brings listeners front and center with the team's tradition, and he has produced and hosted a TV show called "Burgundy & Gold Magazine." For his work on "Burgundy & Gold Magazine," Mike won first place for sports coverage in the nationally recognized 2013 Hometown Media Awards sponsored by the Alliance for Community Media. He's been interviewed extensively by print and broadcast media on Redskins...